Saturday, April 11, 2009

Impact of Meat Consumption on the Environment via The Exponent

Came across this column by Kelsey Waters that was published yesterday in The Exponent, Purdue University's daily student paper. In her column, Waters, a senior, discusses a 2006 United Nations report detailing the impact of meat consumption on the environment and states:

Where the environment is concerned, eating meat is like driving a huge SUV. Eating a vegetarian diet is like driving a motorcycle, and eating a vegan diet is like riding a bicycle or walking.

1 comment:

Waters is right- the environmental impact of meat consumption is huge. Her analogy is pretty spot-on too. Livestock production generates more of the world's greenhouse gases than transportation (18% compared to 11%).

Cutting back on meat is one of the simplest things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. Its also great for your health. Did you know that meat consumption has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain types of cancer? These illnesses are four of the largest killers in the United States and they're all preventable.

You don't have to become a full vegetarian to help the planet and your health; even a small change in what you eat makes a huge impact. If every American skipped just one chicken meal a week, for example, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads.

I work on a non-profit health campaign called Meatless Monday, which encourages Americans to forgo meat once a week to improve their health and reduce their carbon footprint. Skipping meat one day a week reduces your saturated fat intake by 15%, which is a easy way to decrease your risk of illness. Having a Meatless Monday is a simple step that anyone can take. For tips, recipes, and more information about the campaign you can visit our website, www.MeatlessMonday.com

About Me

I am a labor lawyer practicing in Washington, D.C. I was born in Tokyo and have lived in San Diego, Los Angeles, Boston, and, most recently, Alexandria City, Virginia, where I reside with my partner of 7 years and our 2 perfect chihuahuas. I have been a vegetarian since 2007.